Robinson named UN envoy for Great Lakes

Robinson named UN envoy for Great Lakes

• From: AAP
• March 19, 20138:36AM

 

Former Irish president Mary Robinson has been named the UN envoy to Africa's Great Lakes region.Source: AAP

FORMER Irish president Mary Robinson has become the UN envoy to Africa's troubled Great Lakes region, urging action to get war crimes suspects before the International Criminal Court.

Robinson was named on Monday a special envoy by UN leader Ban Ki-Moon as Democratic Republic of Congo militia leader Bosco Ntaganda sought refuge at the US embassy in Rwanda.
US officials said Ntaganda had asked to be transferred to the ICC.
Ntaganda is wanted for war crimes in the strife that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives in eastern DR Congo over the past two decades.
Robinson's main job will be to lead political efforts to bring an end to conflict in the region where Ntaganda, head of a faction of the M23 rebel group, has again been at the centre of recent battles.
Ban named the envoy as part of a peace deal under which 11 African nations signed an accord last month promising not to interfere in the affairs of their neighbours.

 

He also wants a special 2,500-strong "intervention brigade" established in eastern DR Congo to tackle the M23 and other militias.
Robinson said the latest fighting between Ntaganda's fighters and a rival faction in eastern DR Congo "underscores the importance" of the accord signed by the African leaders on February 24 "to address the root causes of instability."
"I plan to work closely with the leaders of the region to ensure that the presence of combatants in their territories is addressed by their respective governments, in the context of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework.
"In this respect, I call on states of the region to work with the International Criminal Court," she said in a statement, adding that she was "honoured" to be named special envoy.
Robinson said she was already working on the region's troubles and would go to Great Lakes countries in coming weeks to meet leaders.
Robinson was president of Ireland from 1990 to 1997 and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002. She is a renowned rights advocate.
"Mrs Robinson will play a key role in supporting the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo," said UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey in announcing the nomination.